Tactile keyboard and tactile input device

Abstract

The present invention relates to a tactile keyboard and a tactile input device. The tactile keyboard according to the present invention, which includes a plurality of keys, comprises a base portion providing a region on which the plurality of keys are arranged, wherein at least one of the keys comprises: a magnetic field generator which is arranged on the base portion; a cap portion which provides one surface so that a user comes in contact with the surface to apply an external force; an elastic portion which is disposed between the base portion and the cap portion and elastically supports the cap portion; and a motion portion which is at least partially connected to the cap portion and includes an elastic material, in which magnetic particles are distributed in a matrix.

1 . A tactile keyboard having a plurality of keys, the tactile keyboard comprising a base portion configured to provide a region on which the plurality of keys are arranged,
 wherein at least one of the keys comprises: a magnetic field generator arranged on the base portion;   a cap portion configured to provide one surface so that a user comes in contact with the surface to apply an external force;   an elastic portion disposed between the base portion and the cap portion and configured to elastically support the cap portion; and   a motion portion at least partially connected to the cap portion and configured to include an elastic material in which magnetic particles are dispersed in a matrix.   
     
     
         2 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the magnetic field generator comprises a solenoid coil and applies a magnetic field to the motion portion. 
     
     
         3 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein a force generated in the motion portion as the magnetic particles react to a magnetic field applied from the magnetic field generator is transmitted to the cap portion, thereby providing a tactile sensation to the user. 
     
     
         4 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the cap portion comprises a first surface that a user makes contact with and applies an external force to and a second surface that is opposite to the first surface and on which the motion portion is arranged. 
     
     
         5 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 4 , wherein a receiving groove is formed on the second surface, and the motion portion is accommodated and arranged in the receiving groove. 
     
     
         6 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 5 , wherein the cap portion is formed in a double-shot injection mold structure in which a hard material layer comprising the receiving groove and a soft material layer accommodated in the receiving groove are formed. 
     
     
         7 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the cap portion comprises a first surface that the user makes contact with and applies an external force to, and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the motion portion is arranged on at least a portion of the first surface. 
     
     
         8 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the motion portion and the cap portion are formed in a film-insert in-mold structure of the cap portion and a film portion that covers an elastic material in which magnetic particles are dispersed in a matrix. 
     
     
         9 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic portion comprises any one of a rubber dome, a spring, and a pantograph-shaped polymer support. 
     
     
         10 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic portion comprises a vertically formed shaft and a spring fitted onto the shaft. 
     
     
         11 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein some keys comprise only the cap portion and the elastic portion and a specific key comprises the magnetic field generator, the cap portion, the elastic portion, and the motion portion. 
     
     
         12 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 11 , wherein the specific key has a larger area than an average area of the plurality of keys. 
     
     
         13 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to transmit a signal to the magnetic field generator. 
     
     
         14 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 13 , wherein the controller transmits a signal to a magnetic field generator of a key when a time duration for which the user presses the key exceeds a preset time. 
     
     
         15 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 13 , wherein the controller includes pattern data stored to provide a specific tactile sensation on a preset key and transmits a signal to the magnetic field generator based on the pattern data. 
     
     
         16 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 13 , wherein the controller transmits a signal to the magnetic field generator based on at least one of event pattern data corresponding to an effect of an event or audio pattern data corresponding to an audio signal. 
     
     
         17 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , further comprising a function key,
 wherein the function key is a key that turns on and off a magnetic field applied to the motion portion, adjusts intensity and frequency of the magnetic field applied to the motion portion, or transmits a signal of a pattern pre-stored in the motion portion to the magnetic field generator.   
     
     
         18 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the motion portion is connected to an elastic support portion and the elastic support portion is at least partially connected to the cap portion. 
     
     
         19 . The tactile keyboard of  claim 1 , wherein the motion portion is divided into a plurality of region, each having a different polarity. 
     
     
         20 . A tactile input device having at least one button, the tactile input device comprising a base portion configured to provide a region on which the button is arranged,
 wherein at least one of the button comprises:   a magnetic field generator arranged on the base portion;   a cap portion configured to provide one surface so that a user comes in contact with the surface to apply an external force;   an elastic portion disposed between the base portion and the cap portion and configured to elastically support the cap portion; and   a motion portion at least partially connected to the cap portion and configured to include an elastic material in which magnetic particles are dispersed in a matrix.   
     
     
         21 . A method of providing a tactile sensation to a user using a tactile keyboard comprising a plurality of keys and a controller,
 wherein at least one of the keys comprises   a cap portion configured to provide one surface so that a user comes in contact with to apply an external force;   a motion portion at least partially connected to the cap portion and configured to include an elastic material in which magnetic particles are dispersed in a matrix; and   a magnetic field generator configured to generate a magnetic field which is applied to the motion portion, and   the controller transmits a signal for application of a magnetic field to the magnetic field generator.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the controller determines whether the user has completed entering a word or a sentence, and when it is determined that the entering is complete, the controller transmits a signal to the magnetic field generator that corresponds to at least one key. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the controller determines whether the user has completed entering the word or the sentence, and when a typo occurs, the controller transmits a signal, which is different from the signal transmitted upon completion of the entering, to the magnetic field generator that corresponds to at least one key. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the controller transmits a signal to the magnetic field generator that corresponds to a key group based on setting data of the key group received from setup software of the tactile keyboard. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the controller transmits a signal to the magnetic field generator based on at least one of tactile sensation pattern data, tactile sensation intensity data, or tactile sensation providing duration data received from setup software of the tactile keyboard.